Wildwood looks to close Boardwalk during overnight hours

The city of Wildwood is proposing to take the dramatic step of closing down the famed Boardwalk during overnight hours all year long as a way to prevent troublemaking crowds.

Under the plan, no one from the public would be allowed on the Boardwalk from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. every night throughout the year.

The city’s Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance on April 8 to formalize the proposal. A public hearing and final vote are scheduled by the governing body at its next meeting on April 22.

The city announced in a news release that it will close the Boardwalk overnight “as part of our continued commitment to public safety and quality of life.”

 “These hours are designed to limit late-night crowds and support a welcoming friendly atmosphere for everyone to enjoy the best of our Boardwalk,” Steve Mikulski, deputy mayor and commissioner of public safety, said in the release. “We fully support our Boardwalk businesses. This is not about limiting business activity, it’s about preventing loitering, large gatherings, and the types of behavior that tend to occur after hours.”

No one would be allowed on the Boardwalk from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. other than emergency personnel performing their duties, authorized Wildwood employees, contractors, vendors, or any person or activity specifically authorized by the city or the chief of police.

“The city emphasizes that this measure is intended to maintain a safe, well-managed environment while allowing legitimate business operations to continue. Visitors are encouraged to respect posted hours and plan accordingly,” the release stated.

The popular Boardwalk is the hub of Wildwood’s entertainment, amusement, retail and dining scene during the summer.

Signs will be installed along the Boardwalk to alert the public about the overnight closure. Police will be on the Boardwalk to enforce the ban, the city said.

Like other towns at the Jersey Shore, Wildwood has experienced an outburst of public drinking, theft, fighting, vandalism and other crimes committed by groups of unruly teens and young people during the last few summers.

    The Boardwalk is the hub of Wildwood's entertainment, amusements, shopping and dining during the summer season.
  

Heading into the summer tourism season, Wildwood wants to avoid a repeat of Memorial Day weekend in 2024, when swarms of rowdy teenagers and young adults got into fights and caused other trouble on the Boardwalk.

At one point, Wildwood declared a “state of emergency” one night in 2024 when police were inundated with calls complaining about the rowdy teens.

Wildwood already has a 10 p.m. curfew for minors under 18 years old. Anyone under 18 is not allowed unsupervised on the streets after 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Minors and their parents or guardians risk being arrested for curfew violations, city officials said. Parents may also be hit with a $1,000 fine if their children repeatedly violate the curfew.

Other Jersey Shore towns, including Ocean City and Sea Isle City, have enacted their own curfews and nighttime backpack bans in recent years to crack down on troublemaking teens disrupting the summer tourism season.

Since 2023, Ocean City has been closing the beaches at 8 p.m. during the summer to keep large groups of teens from holding rowdy parties. There is also an 11 p.m. curfew on minors. Ocean City also has been closing the Boardwalk bathrooms at 10 p.m. in the summer.

Ocean City’s backpack ban covers juveniles and adults each night between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. on the Boardwalk, beaches and beach street ends through the summer months. The ban is designed to prevent anyone from hiding alcoholic beverages, drugs weapons or other contraband.

In 2023, Sea Isle City imposed a new curfew on juveniles and also began banning backpacks from the Promenade and beaches starting at 10 p.m. for the summer.

For the curfew, juveniles under the age of 18 generally are not allowed out in public from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, there are exceptions for minors who are accompanied by adults, are going to or returning from their summer jobs or are participating in formal activities such as recreation programs.

    The proposed overnight ban on the Boardwalk would be in effect all year long.  (Photo courtesy of the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority)